We sit down with Kristine Sommer, former USA Rugby international and professional athlete, passionate advocate for athlete wellbeing and transition support now a co-founder of the Global Rugby Players Foundation and the XV foundation.

Kristine’s story is a powerful reflection of the emotional, practical, and identity-driven challenges athletes face when stepping away from sport, and how owning that journey, rather than avoiding it, can unlock a whole new chapter of growth.

From the internal identity struggles of retirement, to the external work of building a new network and purpose, Kristine shares honest, experience-rich lessons that every athlete needs to hear.

Key Takeaways

• The next chapter is coming, whether you’re ready or not. Initiate the conversation with yourself and others.

• Transition is inevitable. Embracing it with intention allows you to shape it.

• It’s easy to look backwards. But your attention belongs to the now and the path ahead.

• Leadership, resilience, pressure management… athletes bring serious value to industry.

• Get curious about who you know and how they can help shape your direction.

• Leaving the game means figuring out who you are without the jersey - it takes time and patience.

• You’ll ask if you made the right decision. You’re not alone.

• You’re not starting over, you’re evolving.

About the hosts

James Rule, Co-Founder of ATA, is a seasoned leadership coach and former professional rugby player with extensive experience in high-performance sports management. Having held CEO roles at Super League clubs and senior positions in major sporting organisations, he understands the pressures of transitioning beyond elite competition. A passionate advocate for athlete development, James drives ATA’s mission to provide structured, research-driven support, ensuring athletes are equipped for long-term success beyond the game.

Karl Birch, Co-Founder of ATA, is a former rugby player turned coach, mentor, and leadership specialist. With over a decade in medical sales, where he led a team, he combines industry expertise with a deep understanding of the athlete mindset to help athletes transition into meaningful careers beyond sport. Passionate about early preparation and proactive career planning, he has guided former athletes through transition, ensuring they step confidently into their next chapter.

Connect and Contact

Website:

www.athletetransitionaccelerator.com

LinkedIn:

Athlete Transition Accelerator: https://www.linkedin.com/company/athlete-transition-accelerator/

James Rule: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-rule-77255520/

Karl Birch: linkedin.com/in/karlbbirch10

Instagram:

@ataccelerator https://www.instagram.com/ataccelerator

Email:

support@athletetransitionaccelerator.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What athletes wish they knew sooner.

What do elite athletes wish they’d done before hanging up the boots, taking of their pads for the last time or laying down their ore? What conversations do they look back on and wish they’d had? What preparation really counts? This week, we take a different approach.

Instead of a guest, Karl and James dive into the biggest lessons, recurring themes, and behind-the-scenes insights that have emerged from hundreds of conversations with elite athletes who’ve made the leap from sport to life beyond the game.

From Olympians to international rugby players, cricketers and footballers, these are the truths we’ve heard time and time again, and the practical takeaways we want every current athlete to hear before the lights go out.

Key Takeaways:

• Curiosity leads to clarity.
• Conversations change careers.
• Your network is your edge.
• Reframe rejection and injury as opportunity.
• Your mindset is a superpower.

If you’re an athlete thinking about what’s next, or someone who supports them, this episode is packed with the insight, honesty, and actionable advice you’ve come to expect from Athlete to Athlete.

About the Hosts

James Rule, Co-Founder of ATA, is a seasoned leadership coach and former professional rugby player with extensive experience in high-performance sports management. Having held CEO roles at Super League clubs and senior positions in major sporting organisations, he understands the pressures of transitioning beyond elite competition. A passionate advocate for athlete development, James drives ATA’s mission to provide structured, research-driven support, ensuring athletes are equipped for long-term success beyond the game.

Karl Birch, Co-Founder of ATA, is a former rugby player turned coach, mentor, and leadership specialist. With over a decade in medical sales, where he led a team, he combines industry expertise with a deep understanding of the athlete mindset to help athletes transition into meaningful careers beyond sport. Passionate about early preparation and proactive career planning, he has guided former athletes through transition, ensuring they step confidently into their next chapter.

Connect and Contact

Website:

www.athletetransitionaccelerator.com

LinkedIn:

Athlete Transition Accelerator: https://www.linkedin.com/company/athlete-transition-accelerator/

James Rule: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-rule-77255520/

Karl Birch: linkedin.com/in/karlbbirch10

Instagram:

@ataccelerator https://www.instagram.com/ataccelerator

Email:

support@athletetransitionaccelerator.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We sit down with Jenny Casson, two-time Olympic rower for Team Canada and Co-Founder of Daylilie, to explore what it means to evolve beyond elite sport.

From competing on the world stage in Tokyo and Paris to launching a business built around purpose and impact, Jenny shares her own transition story, the challenges, the mindset shifts, and the importance of having the right people in your corner.

As one of ATA’s ambassadors, Jenny brings both lived experience and a refreshing honesty to what the process of preparing for life beyond sport really looks like.

Key Takeaways:

• You don’t need to solve it all in one day.
• Build your team. Seek out people doing what you want to do and start the conversation.
• This next chapter isn’t a loss; it’s growth.
• Don’t let athlete be your only identity.
• Take time to explore, reflect, and understand yourself.

Whether you're still competing or just starting to plan for what comes next, this episode offers real, actionable insight from someone who’s walking the path ,and doing it on her terms.

Jenny Casson:

LinkedIn – Jennifer Joan Casson

Instagram – jenny_joan_casson

Daylilie - Everyday Bras for Athletic Silhouettes | Daylilie

Instagram – daylilie_bras

About the hosts

James Rule, Co-Founder of ATA, is a seasoned leadership coach and former professional rugby player with extensive experience in high-performance sports management. Having held CEO roles at Super League clubs and senior positions in major sporting organisations, he understands the pressures of transitioning beyond elite competition. A passionate advocate for athlete development, James drives ATA’s mission to provide structured, research-driven support, ensuring athletes are equipped for long-term success beyond the game.

Karl Birch, Co-Founder of ATA, is a former rugby player turned coach, mentor, and leadership specialist. With over a decade in medical sales, where he led a team, he combines industry expertise with a deep understanding of the athlete mindset to help athletes transition into meaningful careers beyond sport. Passionate about early preparation and proactive career planning, he has guided former athletes through transition, ensuring they step confidently into their next chapter

Connect and Contact

Website:

www.athletetransitionaccelerator.com

LinkedIn:

Athlete Transition Accelerator: https://www.linkedin.com/company/athlete-transition-accelerator/

James Rule: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-rule-77255520/

Karl Birch: linkedin.com/in/karlbbirch10

Instagram:

@ataccelerator https://www.instagram.com/ataccelerator

Email:

support@athletetransitionaccelerator.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.